Death said to be suicide

The White County Sheriff's Office and White County Coroner's Office investigated the death of 52year-old Stanley D. Hays of rural Carmi Friday afternoon.

White County Sheriff Doug Maier said it appears the death is a suicide.

Comment

The Carmi Times - Carmi, IL

Writer

Posted Feb. 28, 2013 at 8:00 AM

Posted Feb. 28, 2013 at 8:00 AM

The White County Sheriff's Office and White County Coroner's Office investigated the death of 52year-old Stanley D. Hays of rural Carmi Friday afternoon.

White County Sheriff Doug Maier said it appears the death is a suicide.

Deputy Randy Graves was sent to investigate an abandoned vehicle at a remote location in eastern White County near what is known locally as Brown's Pond.

Graves found a maroon GMC minivan at the location. A license plate check revealed the owners were the parents of Hays. They were contacted and, based on the circumstances, Graves requested assistance at the scene. He was joined by other sheriff's office personnel and a search of the area led to the discovery of footprints near a pond. The prints led around the pond and into a wooded area near the Wabash River where Hays' body was discovered.

Maier said the evidence at the scene was indicative of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. Illinois State Police crime scene technicians processed the scene.